Leaders face a more stringent pub test in 2025

A NSW Minister resigns over personal use of a government car. A local council hits the headlines for a leadership retreat at a luxury hotel. A major bank is forced to rethink new fees after customer backlash.

The pub test isn’t new. Leadership behaviour has always been scrutinised against an unwritten measure, where average citizens consider it justified, or on the nose. Perhaps “social media test” is a more apt term today.

Whatever you call it, the test is a whole lot harder in the thick of a cost-of-living crisis.

No-one likes feeling a leader or big business is ripping them off, but the lack of forgiveness in public perception has ramped up to new levels while we ponder how to pay our power bill and afford the latest luxury item, a carton of eggs.

In 2025, any questionable action – however small - risks creating major reputation damage.

In most sporting codes, the rule book has non-negotiables – and then there’s the section towards the back which describes behaviour that doesn’t technically break the rules but isn’t “in the spirit of the game”.

That’s what we’re talking about here. Many of the cases in the media recently involve leaders pointing out – either directly or indirectly – that their actions broke no rules.

Maybe not, but the pub test also judges behaviour not considered to be in the spirit of the game. There’s reasonable, and then there’s crossing the line. 

If you’re a leader, what can you do to keep your credibility and reputation at a time of heightened sensitivity?

View your behaviour, and that of your entire team, through the lens of a jaded, untrusting community. Understand there’s little reputational wriggle room if people feel you’ve acted with unreasonable self-interest.

If you uncover behaviour that doesn’t pass the test, be transparent. Fix the action and communicate with those affected. Tell them what happened and what you’ve done about it.

Aim to be clear, rather than defensive. Remember, just because the rules allow it, that invisible spirit-of- the-game clause might still trip you up.

Want more on this topic? Listen to Neryl’s recent radio interviews:

2SM with Ron Wilson: https://omny.fm/shows/ronwilson/dr-neryl-east-credibility-expert-07-02-25

Australia Overnight with Pat Panetta: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2447174/episodes/16573591-dr-neryl-east-with-pat-panetta-credibility-expert